What are standards for diving equipment in order to ensure safety at construction sites in Vietnam?

What are standards for diving equipment in order to ensure safety at construction sites in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Subsection 2.14.4 Section 2 of the National technical regulation on safety in construction QCVN 18:2021/BXD promulgated together with Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD stipulating standards for diving equipment in order to ensure safety at construction sites in Vietnam as follows:

2.14.4.1 The provisions of this section apply to diving with diving suits, helmets and other equipment of normal use. Self-contained diving equipment must comply with applicable standards in design, manufacture, use, operation, inspection and testing, maintenance and regulations of the competent authority (if any).

NOTE: Integrated, independent diving equipment includes but is not limited to the following: Diving equipment (engine, submersible) dedicated to deep diving; complete diving suit including clothes, diving helmet, snorkel and breathing apparatus (oxygen tank) and other accessories included.

2.14.4.2 Employers must provide divers with adequate diving equipment including means of entry and exit, means of communication, and lifelines with suitable belts.

2.14.4.3 Diving suit:

a) Divers must be equipped with specialized diving suits;

b) When diving in cold water, divers must be equipped with thermal underwear, diving helmet and gloves.

2.14.4.4 There must be enough means of entering and exiting the water such as ladders with steps, ladders with hand-held ropes or working platforms.

What are standards for air supply equipment for underwater works in order to ensure safety at construction sites in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Subsection 2.14.4.5 Section 2 of the National technical regulation on safety in construction QCVN 18:2021/BXD promulgated together with Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD stipulating standards for air supply equipment for underwater works in order to ensure safety at construction sites in Vietnam as follows:

2.14.4.5 Air supply equipment must comply with the following regulations:

a) If air is supplied by pipeline, an air pump, compressor or cylinder must be provided;

b) If an air compressor is used, it must be ensured that a sufficient reserve of air is provided so that the divers can come to the surface in case the compressor fails;

c) The air supplied to divers to breathe must ensure the quality prescribed for human respiratory activities, at a pressure suitable for diving equipment and underwater working conditions;

d) When the diver is still wearing a diving suit or helmet, the air pump must still be operated;

dd) The air supply pipe between the air compressor and the diver must be made of reinforced rubber (by means of a mesh or winding or other equivalent method), capable of withstanding the highest pressure (according to usage requirements) without deformation, having sufficient tensile strength to not break in use;

NOTE 1: The pressure resistance and tensile strength of the gas supply piping are to be checked by testing.

NOTE 2: The joints (or parts, connecting details) in the gas supply pipelines must be swivel joints (in the form of truncated pipes) firmly, which will not be dislodged during use.

NOTE 3: The gas supply pipeline must be synchronized with the gas receiving device (machine), oil and water filter, safety valve, shut-off valve, reducer valve and pressure gauge.

e) The capacity of the air receiving device (machine) must ensure enough air supply for the diver even in the event of a failure of the air compressor until the regular supply is restored (by hand pump, backup compressor or other efficient means);

g) There must be a non-return valve between the air receiving device (machine) and the air compressor;

h) The electric-powered air pump must be of the type that can be quickly switched to manual operation or have a backup hand pump available at all times to ensure the required power and sufficient pressure;

i) When divers use compressed air equipment for work, the air supplied to this equipment must be taken from a separate source from another gas receiving device and this source must be separate from the source of air supplied to the diver for breathing.

2.14.4.6 The lifeline must be a quality rope with a breaking strength with a safety factor of at least 06 (six) times the expected working load; shall be checked by tensile test and shall be of suitable length according to the requirements of use.

Best regards!